Fincantieri's Ancona floats out Viking Jupiter, ship to be named in Oslo 2019Fincantieri's Ancona floats out Viking Jupiter, ship to be named in Oslo 2019

The float-out included a lucky coin ceremony, with four coins welded into a box on the top deck of the ship. Ceremony madrina was the noted Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø.

Sissel Kyrkjebø will be godmother at Oslo naming

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen announced Kyrkjebø, his late mother’s favorite singer and a longtime Viking partner, will serve as Viking Jupiter's godmother and preside over the ship’s naming ceremony in Oslo in June 2019.

The coins were from the birth years of Kyrkjebø, Hagen (1943), his daughter Karine's dog Finse (2012) and Hagen's mother Ragnhild, known as 'Mamsen' (1911).

Giovanni Stecconi, director of the Ancona yard, led Fincantieri's representation at the ceremony.

The 47,800gt Viking Jupiter has all-balcony accommodations for 930 passengers. The ship will now head to an outfitting dock.

Viking Orion just weeks from delivery

This latest newbuild follows Viking Orion, due for completion at Ancona within the next few weeks, and Viking Sun, Viking Sky and Viking Sea, all from Ancona and delivered in 2016 and 2017. The first ship, Viking Star, was completed at Marghera in 2015.

Viking orders through 2027

Besides Viking Jupiter, nine more ships are on order for Viking from Fincantieri's Italian yards for delivery through 2027.

In addition, Fincantieri subsidiary Vard recently signed a letter of intent for the design and construction of two 'special' cruise vessels—possibly expedition ships—to be built at its Norwegian yards.